Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-05-26
The Presbytery OF Rgypt.

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From ihs Egyptiaa GAIstte IandFia, ,Msr,a0r
The PfesbyteFy Of Egg pt held its 2sth
annual meeting In Cairo IN the early
part Of this month, and our report has
been delayed until the necessary statis-
tics had been prepared, When II was
organized In 1850 Ia members consisted
ot three American Missionaries. Nov
II II composed Of bibe native pastors
and 81 native elders, besides the Mission
aries, (wbo number only Bine) It's Mod.
orator and Clerk are native pastors.
The Prssbytery has under It's control
10 stations In which evangelical work
IL carried on. TweDty.tbree Of these
stations are organized churches. The
workers are nine pastors. eight llceptl-
stes and six theological students, besides
twelve irregular helpers. The member.
ship Of these churches aud stations
numbers at present over 2,l00 cOmmu'
nieants, forming o community of prob
ably from 5000 to 10000. The people
are liberal and contributed In 1885 for
this purpose e1,O4l. One church is en-
tlrely selfsupportiDg. three others are
nearly so, and all are doing what they
can and are annually approaching to-
ward entire self.support.
In connection With the evangelical
work are 65 schools. including q Train
ing College, and Boys and Girls Board.
ing aud Day Schools. Last year the pu-
pills 10 these schools numbered 5,263, and
the people paid for tuition and board.
ing fees a3.063. As TO the nationality
about 5000 of the pupils are native
Egyptians. Fifty-three of the schools
are under native management and are
self.suppOrting.
There are also 70 Sabbath schools 10
which in 1856 we're 4.Ol7 pupils, of all
ages from the child to the sheikh. The
children gave for religious purposes eS7.
Even the women the poor neglected
mothers and younger women-have be-
gun to- form Women's Missionary Socir
etes. There are four such societies hsv-
ing a membership of 2l7 and giving e34
for their work. In connection with
these societies 627 women In their
hsrems are learning to read.
A hook and colportage work has long
been established, which last year dis
tributed throughout the Valley of the
Nile, IS far as Wsdy Halfa. about 3s,-
900 volumes. of Scriptures. religious and
educational books. These books were
nearly all sold, the receipts amounting
10 e4,730. There are "a shopmen aud
colpOrteurs at work IN the different
provinces.
From the above facts it will appear
that the people are employing the best
of means for increasing light aud knowl.
edge, good morals and sound views
among themselves and their children.
and to attain these ends they have vol
UNFAIRLY paid during the past year the
muni6cent sum Of 1880.
These people have become members
and adherents OF the Evangelical Church
Of their own freewill and for con-
sciences sake. They have nothing to
gain in worldly sense by identifying
themselves with the Reformed Church.
The Missionaries have nothing to offer
them In the way Of foreign government
tai protection and benefits. Many Of
them suffer loss In friends and property
that they may obtain freedom in wor
ship. They peform duty in the corvee,
police and army as other Egyption sub.
jects, some even volunteering. The
schools are well known as not giving
exemption papers to any pupils except
those who pass the examination requirt
ed by the Government, before the Mood
GERS of the Provinces according to the
law of the War Department.
They, In all senses, retain their orlgl
nal relations TO their own country and
It's Government. The only difference Is
they become more intelligent, better In
formed, and more enlightened and loyal.
The present Khedive and his Govern.
ment have no more earnest, sincere and
devoted subjects than the members of
the RafOrmed Church